Jonathan RuppinSnowdrops by Andrew Miller (Atlantic) is "an intensely riveting psychological drama that unfolds over the course of one Moscow winter, as a young Englishman's moral compass is spun by the seductive opportunities revealed to him by a new Russia" - that's a book that stayed with me, very vivid indeedA Book for All and None by Clare Morgan (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) is distinguished by some particularly elegant proseIs That A Fish in Your Ear? by David Bellos (father of Alex of Numberland fame) (Particular Books) is a fascinating book on the world of translation (out in September) that might well be this year's Just My Type

Elizabeth BainesPalo Alto by James Franco (Faber)A story cycle. The voices of a bunch of alienated suburban American teenagers. Unflinching but touching. Brilliantly writtenThe Principle of Camouflage by Frances Bingham (Two Ravens Press)A novel. Poetic reworking of The Tempest: lonely souls washed up on a remote coast during WW2. Themes of home and exile, loss and recovery. Very literary, probably not to a lot of people's taste, but beautifully written (I loved it)The War Tour by Zoe Lambert (Comma)Short stories, perspectives on war. Plainly told but very movingSomewhere Else, or Even Here by Andrea Ashworth (Salt) Stories. Winner of the Salt-run Scott Award

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When the Guardian asked me and other bloggers to to find great books which weren't already on the First book award list, I thought it would be easy. Pressures on small houses make it harder than I thought, but what's still missing?